Thursday, July 29, 2010

My Energy Detective Hero

He is a man on a mission. He is obsessed. He is ruthless. He is my hero!

Meet Reuben Deumling, Energy Detective Extraordinaire, our good friend who recently visited Lopez.



He has hawk eyes, honed to detect energy leaks. He snoops out excesses and has a persistent knack for tweaking appliances and dwelling so they require the least energy input. When it comes to killing waste, he is ruthless.

And the results? A 90% reduction in his household electricity use!

After implementing waste-cutting measures, he and his wife consume an average of only 9 watts/person (that’s less than a single efficient lightbulb). At OPALCO rates (excluding the $25.50/month fixed charge) that’s a household electricity bill of just $12 for the whole year!

How did he do it? Two words: curiosity and meters.

To Reuben, conservation is a fun challenge to satisfy his curiosity—how much energy do we really need to have a comfortable life?

Some people change light bulbs or buy energy efficient appliances. But Reuben took a broader approach. He started by reading his electric utility meter daily to track consumption in relation to different use patterns. This allowed him to tinker with specific devices and inspired him to be more conscientious about turning off unnecessary lights and appliances.

His detective work also revealed his fridge consumed a whooping 3 kilowatt-hours a day (1,095 kWh a year). He replaced it with a small fridge with a 413 kWh/year rating.

Then he added additional 3” of insulation to the freezer compartment and positioned the refrigerator so that the coils in the back stayed as cool as possible. The best performance Reuben’s fridge achieved was 98 kWh/year, a quarter of the rating!

Next, he used a “Kill-A-Watt” meter (made to monitor power usage of individual appliances) to ferret out phantom loads – power consumption in off/standby mode. Phantom loads can be eliminated by using a switched plugstrip, or unplugging devices not in use.

“It is about empowerment,” says Reuben, “We don’t need to wait for an expert to tell us what to do. We can figure it out ourselves by reading meters and experimenting.”

You might wonder what it would be like to live with someone as passionate about energy as Reuben. Me too. So I asked Diana, Reuben’s wife and mother of their 5-year-old daughter Isabel.

In a gentle voice she said, “I have felt challenged to change my old habits and learn new ways of doing things. But I share the same vision so I fully support what he does.”

Diana and Isabel seem perfectly normal. If they can do it, maybe so can we!

So…let’s become Energy Detectives.

I believe we can learn a lot by sharing with each other tips and encouragements – not only about electricity but gasoline, propane and water too. Share your stories with us at islandenergymatters@googlegroups.com and check out Reuben’s slides on conservation below. Have fun and save $$$!

(Written by Chom Greacen, the article will appear in the Islands Weekly next week.)

"Reducing energy consumption by 50% - 90%" by Reuben Deumling

Reuben Deumling, Energy Detective Extraordinaire and our good friend has generously shared the work of his life passion with us. In his slides, he told the story of what he did to achieve 90% reduction in electricity consumption and similar for gas, and how we can do it too. Below are some previews.




To view the whole presentation, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/reuben-conservation

Enjoy!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Small measures can make a big difference

Whether you find inspiration through altruism, pragmatism or economics, now is the time to develop a thriving and local energy economy.

As previously discussed in our Energy Matters column, our community needs to cut the islands’ electricity consumption growth to zero to avoid more expensive “tier 2” power prices. This month we’ll look at ways to conserve electricity with direct and simple measures that you can begin right away. Your efforts will be rewarded and really do add up.

In developing your energy conservation plan, use the following approach: 1) identify energy loss or inefficiencies, 2) prioritize according to potential energy savings and 3) systematically correct the prioritized problems according to your household energy improvement budget. OPALCO is now offering a $25 professional home energy assessment through its Energy Snapshot program that can help you develop a personalized plan. Sign up with Anne Bertino at 376-3571.

First, let’s discuss habits. You really will lower your energy consumption by using a clothesline or rack. Run the dishwasher with a full load and air dry. Set your freezer at 0 to 5 degrees (F). Turn off lights not in use. Unplug home electronics when not in use to reduce vampire (standby) loads.

Appliances and other electronics add up to about 40% of our energy bills. Big consumers are refrigerators, clothes washers and clothes dryers.

Refrigerators built before 1990 are great candidates for replacement. When shopping imagine two price tags: the “down payment” at checkout, then your utility bill for the next 10-20 years. Replacing a 1980s model will save you about $100 a year in electricity. Double that for a 1970s model! Look for the Energy Star logo, and read the yellow tags to compare annual energy usage. Avoid side-by-side design or a model larger than you need.

Heating represents 30-40% of a typical energy budget. Use a programmable thermostat, set back at night or while you are away. Maximize your furnace efficiency by keeping its filter clean and sealing your duct work. Leaks in your duct work are leaks on your pocketbook.

Lighting comprises about 10% of our energy use; change your incandescent bulbs to compact florescent bulbs (CFLs). CFLs are free with the OPALCO Snapshot.

Water heating represents approximately 12% of our energy budget. Insulate your tank, and set it to 120 degrees to save energy and protect from scalding. Wash your clothes in cold water. A low-flow shower head helps. Or, even better, heat your water via the sun by installing a solar water heater!

Retain the warm air in your home. Seal the air leaks, but have it done by a professional who will ensure healthy indoor air quality. Hot air rises; insulate your attic with loose-fill cellulose. Windows are inefficient when it comes to heat retention, so take advantage of OPALCO rebates and consider replacing any single-paned or aluminum-framed windows.

All of these efforts can add up to save you considerable money on your energy bills, while at the same time doing your part for our community and the environment.

Visit OPALCO or the Energy Star websites for additional specifics on energy savings and information on rebates and tax credits. Contact our group at 468-4047 or islandenergymatters@googlegroups.com.

(Written By Doug Poole and The Lopez Island Energy Taskforce, this article was first published in the Islands' Weekly.)

A Time of Crisis and Opportunity

It wasn't long ago that the business model that made sense for our cooperative power utility, OPALCO, was to sell as much electricity as possible. The wires and transformers that deliver the electricity cost about the same regardless of whether you're consuming 5 or 500 units (kWh) a month. Utilities like OPALCO have high fixed costs (wires, transformers, etc.) and the more electricity they sold, the more these fixed costs could be spread out, leading to lower rates.

Inexpensive electricity was made possible by an abundance of federally-funded hydropower dams, built mostly by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) starting in the 1930s. Fortunately, (if you're a rate payer) or not (if you're a salmon), these dams aren't going away soon. But nobody is building any more big dams here either. The Columbia River is now a staircase of 14 dams. There just aren't any more big untapped rivers.

Over the years, electricity consumption has been growing and electricity surpluses the region once had are now gone. BPA's response has been to tell utilities like OPALCO something like, "Listen -- we've got a problem of limited supply here. Starting in 2011, if your power consumption grows, that additional power will have to be purchased on the open market." This new power is called "Tier 2". "Tier 1" is the inexpensive legacy hydropower.

There are few certainties in the electricity sector these days, but here's one: Tier 2 power is going to be more expensive. OPALCO currently buys Tier 1 BPA power for around 3 cents per kWh. No one knows for sure, but folks in the industry are saying that Tier 2 is likely to be at least twice as much.

Ouch. That turns the old business model on its head. More sales no longer means lower rates. On the contrary, the way to keep rates down now is to try to keep our power growth to zero so OPALCO won't have to buy any of that expensive Tier 2 stuff.

Crisis and Opportunity

It might seem like there's a crisis on the horizon. But there's a popular saying that the Chinese character for 'crisis' is composed of characters for 'danger' and 'opportunity'. Investing in energy efficiency (getting the same warm houses, cold beer for less energy input) is a lot cheaper than building new power plants and fueling them for 30 years. Here in the San Juans we use the bulk of our electricity for heat -- water and space heating, cooking, drying clothes. Heating takes a surprising amount of electricity -- an electric water heater takes over 100 times more electricity than a laptop. Heating a building takes even more. We can slash our electric bills by weatherizing our homes, using clothes lines, and investing in efficient appliances.

The good news is that saving energy saves money in two ways. If you implement energy conservation in your own home or business, your bills will be lower -- because you purchase less power. You also help keep the rates low for all OPALCO members.

Energy conservation is clearly a win-win for all -- AND there is money available through OPALCO and federal tax credits to help. To get started, contact OPALCO about an energy audit at 376-3571, or explore OPALCO's webpage: http://www.opalco.com/energy-efficiency. We'll investigate these and other ways we can shape our collective energy futures in upcoming Energy Matters articles. See you again next month!

(Written by Chris Greacen and Lopez Island Energy Taskforce, this article first appeared in Island Weekly in June.)

Energy Matters

We used to live in a simpler world. It was a world in which we were blessed by an abundance of cheap hydropower and fossil fuels. It was a world in which our pursuit of low-cost electricity and fuel was not complicated by our mounting impact on the environment, natural resources and habitat-- a world of seemingly endless economic growth and opportunities.

Now that world is not so simple.

What we face today is a world of unprecedented challenges and uncertainties. Our islands currently depend on hydroelectricity for 80% of our power. What will happen if climate change affects rainfall patterns and power generation from hydroelectric dams in the Pacific Northwest? Fuel prices are unpredictable and the environmental risks of extracting petroleum has never been more apparent than with the massive BP spill in the gulf. How can we prepare ourselves and our economy for the time when fossil fuels are no longer as affordable? Is there a way we can maintain and improve our quality of life without compromising the environment and natural resources that we leave our children and their children? And finally, can we move forward in a way that is creative, responsible, affordable and even fun?

We believe the answer to the last question is yes! Innovations in technology, policy, and collaboration open up opportunities that are more than sufficient to address our challenges. We want to explore energy questions and engage our community of readers in an important discussion of our county's energy future. In this space you will find exciting energy facts, ideas and initiatives from our neighbors and around the world. We will offer information on incentives, services, resources and technology that will save energy and money. As we explore our use of energy in the San Juan Islands, we will discuss where we are now, where we want to be in the future, and how to get there.

We envision a thriving local energy economy that is based upon the principals of ecology, peace, and social justice. This column will be a regular feature and because we believe the discussion of our energy future belong to the community, we welcome any questions, comments or inspirations our readers may have. Please write us at islandenergymatters@googlegroups.com.

Who are "we", you may ask? Spearheaded by Lopez Community Land Trust, the taskforce is a small group of energy enthusiasts and professionals as well as members of a group called "Islands Energy Coalition" whose interest is to promote community discussions, solutions and empowerment towards a happy, resilient energy future for the San Juan Islands. Specifically, this column is initiated by Chom Greacen (energy researcher), Chris Greacen (energy consultant), Doug Poole (building performance contractor) and Jeff Dyer (renewable energy contractor), all residents of Lopez Island. We and other IEC members will contribute to future articles. Doug is the groups contact at 468-4047.

(Written by Chom Greacen and Lopez Island Energy Taskforce, this article first appeared in Islands Weekly in May 2010)